Coilovers without helper springs

  1. Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2012 Leeds, West Yorkshire Posts: 236 1997 Diablo Red Peugeot 106 1.1 XL! 3 stud y000!
    #1
    I know i'm gonna get massive amounts of abuse for wanting to go low, but, the coilovers i'm looking at state to lower a max of 80mm so what would it work out at without the helper springs in? Plus is this legal or not?

    Cheers.
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2007 Guantanamo Bay Posts: 28700 oyster card
    #2
    Depends if your helper spring is fully compressed or not. Removing the helper spring could allow the spring to become unseated fromt he top spring pan.
  3. Super Moderator Joined: Feb 2004 Tonbridge United Kingdom (England) Posts: 38236 Vtr, 172, throttle bodied track slut
    #3
    and theres me thinking we had sections for this....
  4. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810
    #4
    what coilovers? depending on the size of the main spring and damper piston length, you'll probs be alright without a helper. The weight of the car is always going to be on them unless you plan on jumping off ramps anytime soon...

    regarding the law, it just has to pass an mot. And to pass an mot i think it just shouldnt be bottoming out on anything or the tyres rubbing, but dont quote me on that
  5. West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL
    #5
    Springs need to be secure on an mot

    If they jack the car up and the spring comes away from the pan (this WILL happen without helpers if the kist is supposed to have them) its an mot fail

    Not all coilover kits use a helper though
    Some like raceland cheapo kits up to gaz gha items at the higher end dont
    my h&rs do use a helper but if i remove them i end up sat on my internal bump stops
    I dont have them to go low though


    You can allways shorten the damper to suit the helper not being there to keep the spring secure for legality but it depends which dampers you have as to how involved a process that is
  6. Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 591
    #6
    I've never ran helper springs in any cars I've had with coilovers,
    No problems here with mot's or in general, most helper spring compress fully when the cars weights on it so only really there take up the gap when the cars suspension is in full droop,
    But it's not like the spring can really go any where.